Clarkson Using Legal Loophole To Take Top Gear Revamp To ITV

In a saga that could compete with Game Of Thrones for its complexity and intertwining twists and turns, we reported last week that Jeremy Clarkson and Co had been contractually blocked from making a Top Gear leap to ITV.

It now appears that the notorious trio that also includes James May and Richard Hammond could have found a loophole in their BBC contracts by creating the show with an American production company.

The motoring show was stalled due to a “non compete” clause in BBC contracts which prevent the creation of a rival show until 2017 if it was made specifically for a British broadcaster.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the former Top Gear presenters will make use of a loophole that allows them to produce the entire show abroad and then sell the rights over to a UK broadcaster.

Potentially allowing for a huge pay day for Clarkson, Hammond and May, they'll be in the prized position of being able to sell their new format to the highest bidder.

If ITV were to acquire rights to the revamped car programme it’s likely that it will go head to head with the now Chris Evans-hosted Top Gear. A proposed battle of the rating that would have hit Oasis/Blur levels of pantomime.

We’re sure that there will be a few more twists in the Top Gear tale before then but for now it would appear that Evans won’t quite be getting the clear that he’d probably hoped for.